Conservatives hunt for next Van Jones

Emboldened by the ouster of presidential adviser Van Jones, conservative and business groups are launching fresh challenges aimed at derailing President Obama’s nominees.

The latest of these targets is David Michaels, Mr. Obama’s pick to head the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), who as an academic published a book attacking corporate executives for the tactics they used to fight class-action lawsuits. Republican critics said they considered Mr. Michaels to be too close to trial lawyers because of his aggressive advocacy on their behalf.

“We are definitely troubled by Michaels’ nomination,” said Keith Smith, the director of employment and labor policy and the National Association of Manufacturers. “We will be urging the Senate committee to carefully review his nomination.”

The drumbeat of criticism aimed at Mr. Michaels follows a pattern that began with the case of Cass Sunstein, who last week was confirmed by the Senate as the White House’s top regulator. Critics attempting to kindle doubts about Mr. Sunstein first outlined their objections on conservative blogs.

Colorful samples from Mr. Sunstein’s large body of academic work — including those suggesting his strong views on animal rights and organ donation — became fodder for critical commentaries on conservative Op-Ed pages and then arose during right-leaning television and radio talk shows.

Fox News personality Glenn Beck dispatched a message on Twitter seeking more information about Mr. Sunstein.

In Mr. Michaels’ case, the objections initially stemmed from his writings on tactics that corporations have used to fend off class-action lawsuits. Later, blog postings expanded on those complaints to include a paper Mr. Michaels wrote airing his strong views about the perils of gun ownership. The blog postings were followed by newspaper columns opposing Mr. Michaels’ confirmation.

On Monday came fresh objections, this time from Grover Norquist, founder of the conservative advocacy group Americans for Tax Reform.

“These appointments have all caused a similar reaction,” Mr. Norquist said.

“These are not the appointees of an unassuming, moderate, non-ideological guy. These are people with very extreme views.”

Mr. Michaels did not respond to telephone and e-mail messages, but White House officials said the attacks leveled at Mr. Michaels and Mr. Sunstein have been strictly partisan, and nothing like those directed at Mr. Jones.

“[Mr. Michaels] is a nationally recognized leader in efforts to ensure the integrity of the science underpinning public health and environmental regulation,” White House spokesman Thomas Vietor said.

“These accusations are simply ridiculous and false.”

Mr. Jones resigned his post as the president’s “green jobs” adviser after video footage captured him comparing President George W. Bush to a crack addict and after his signature surfaced on a petition entertaining the idea that the U.S. government was complicit in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Mr. Sunstein, by comparison, had backing from some conservative corners and was easily confirmed last week as the administration’s new head of information and regulatory affairs.

Story Continues →